From literary classics to popular science works, these virtual libraries will help you make reading your ally. Check them out!

In times of uncertainty, pause or retreat, reading can transport you to other worlds, offer you peace of mind and reduce anxiety. Fortunately, it is no longer necessary to search the Internet to access the works of your favorite authors and download them freely, legally and safely.

Find titles ranging from fiction, history and popular science to biographies, literary classics and the latest bestsellers on these five recommended sites:

1. The Internet Archive
This is a digital library run by an American organization that has managed to digitize more than 1,4 million books. Although its contents are normally reserved for citizens of the United States, due to the COVID-19 contingency they opened an Emergency Library that makes them accessible to everyone. Although most of the books are in English, you can find an extensive selection of titles in Spanish.

2. Amazon Kindle
Recently, the e-commerce company announced the extension of the free trial period of its Kindle service, which includes more than one million e-books. In addition to this, it has partnered with several publishers to launch a list of free books on this platform, which includes copies of all genres and for all ages.

3. Scribd
“We believe that reading is the most powerful tool there is for sharing and connecting. We encourage all of our readers to take care of themselves and their loved ones and we hope that reading offers them comfort in difficult times.” This was the message from the world’s largest digital library – home to books, magazines and audiobooks – when it opened all of its content for free for thirty days. There are more than 75.000 titles in Spanish that you can enjoy without entering any personal data or paying any amount.

4. Feedbooks
In addition to hosting thousands of classics that circulate freely thanks to the public domain, it also offers the latest and most award-winning literary publications, meticulously classified. In this virtual space you can complement your reading with interviews with authors and book reviews.

5. More publishers to the rescue!
Several Latin American publishers decided to provide their readers with free access to their greatest hits, thus inviting them to make reading their greatest ally during confinement. Some of the publishers are: Editorial Planeta with #KeepReadingAtHome, Editorial Porrua with #PorrúaEnCasa and Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial with #YoMeQuedoEnCasaLeyendo on their page I like reading.

Are you ready to travel through time and space by exploring these tools? Take care of yourself from home with the company of books and remember, as Joseph Addison said, that “reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”